Readers sound off on reading lists, #MeToo and Ron Darling's language

Turn the page toward true diversity

Manhattan: “Reading list so white” (Oct. 4) shone a spotlight on the Coalition for Educational Justice’s plea for more literature written by authors of color, containing characters of color. We agree. From 1994 to 2013, only 10% of children’s books were by or about people of color; that number finally began rising in 2014. Still, only 7% of children’s books published in 2017 were written by black, Latinx or native authors combined.

We’d like to clarify one mischaracterization in the Coalition’s report: The statistics pertaining to The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project’s curriculum are incorrect. Children in this curriculum read self-selected books from classroom libraries. Approximately 20% of the books in our libraries are written by and/or about characters of color.

Advertisement

Still, we heartily agree that more needs to be done. We continually revise our curriculum to feature more books by and about people of color. We help principals secure funding for more books by authors of color.

We are glad to work alongside other educators, school leaders, writers and children’s book publishers to ensure that all our children can see themselves represented in the books they read.

Silence of the cows

Tuckahoe, N.Y.: “Tractor trailer crash releases cows on highway, some bovines killed” (Oct. 1) says that “officials were having trouble getting the bovines to mooove back.” This awful incident is not funny. Cows are intelligent, sociable and affectionate. They love their babies just as we love ours; heart-wrenching video shows mother cows running after trucks that are taking their babies away. These animals are tightly packed together with no food or water and after the long journey under these conditions, they are slaughtered. Why would you turn this into a joke? Kiley Blackman

Brett’s revenge

Kingston, Pa.: Whining and sniffling his way through his undignified defense, the judge issued this warning: “What goes around, comes around.” You’ve been warned, boys and girls. Stan Dickerson

What women want

Roselle, N.J.: Do the Democratic lunatics who are running wild in the streets like a bunch of vigilantes know what the words “law and order” mean? We need the National Guard to come in and hose them down. Also, the aggressive, militant females who have taken over the country do not reflect the feelings of many women I know. In their world, men would be reduced to a bunch of passive, neutered eunuchs who sit around with their hands in their laps. Most women enjoy being pursued and being the object of someone’s attention. I am not talking about violence or rape, but good old-fashioned amour. Into each woman’s life, a few men will get out of line; it comes with the territory. You deal with it and move on. It should’t scar anyone for life. Dina DeMaio

Woman betrays women

Manhattan: Sen. Susan Collins going on television and saying that she believes Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was assaulted, but not by Brett Kavanaugh, is despicable. Does she really think that Ford didn’t know who it was? She knew him, they were at a party together, and Collins thinks that Ford has a case of mistaken identity? That is vile, and Collins deserves to be called on it by every woman who has been violated and has no doubt who her abuser was. It would be laughable if it weren’t so disgusting. I hope Collins pays the price in 2020, though that is too long to wait. Marcia Epstein

Creeping Sharia

Auburndale: Now that we Americans are subject to Islamic law, where the testimony of one woman is only worth half that of a man’s, the chauvinists feel empowered. I hope no one reading this is ever assaulted, but if you are, please record every detail regarding time, place, witnesses, etc., save any evidence and try to tell close friends or relatives in case you decide to report it. Cathi Venis

Turn over every rock

Rockaway Point: Now that the fiasco is over in Washington, I say the FBI should investigate all our senators, congressmen, etc. and let’s see what their drinking habits were in high school and college. We would have no government left. Regina Mangan

Lest ye be judged

Rutherford, N.J.: Hey, President Trump, don’t apologize to Brett Kavanaugh for me. Apologize to all Americans who are insulted by the travesty called an investigation by the FBI. Apologize to Christine Blasey Ford for your disgustingly juvenile, hateful display, mocking her. She probably will try to resume her life with dignity and anonymity, while the public must endure the endless pedantic preaching of our so-called commander in chief. What happened to investigative reporting? Where are all the millionaires in politics and entertainment? Couldn’t anyone spend a few dollars to research these accusations further? Carol Viola

Ungodly Democrats

Port Jefferson, L.I.: I have never seen so much hatred and disrespect as I have witnessed the past couple of months.The evil spewing all over our beautiful country is beyond comprehension. I really feel the Clintons and their corrupt underlings have infected our country in the worst possible way. I believe they signed a deal with the Devil way back in Arkansas. I’m praying for our country every day. Grace Fornatora

The fix is in

Brooklyn: Democratic politicians are clearly not adverse to cronyism: Mayor de Blasio gave $1.6 million to favored staff, including a $67,000 raise for Wiley Norvell, hired to make him look good. And there is the 32% raise the City Council approved for its own members. Oh, and the degradation of quality of life in NYC for the already too cramped, taxpaying citizens, while real estate developers get fatter. Barry Brothers

Leave Ron alone

New Hyde Park, L.I.: I cannot believe that anyone actually accused Ron Darling of a racial slur when using the phrase “chink in his armor” during the Yankees game. In this phrase, “chink.” means vulnerability or weakness. When used alone, chink is meant as a racial slur. Darling’s reputation has been tarnished by a lack of knowledge of the English language. Alaine Klein

Don’t preach, teach

Manalapan, N.J.: Michael Rebell’s article about civic education should become required reading for all Americans (“Educate to unify,” Op-Ed, Oct. 7). Young children need to know and understand how special living in the United States of America is. They need to learn and understand what our forefathers did and why they did it. They need to learn about our Constitution and our Bill of Rights, the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. Our school systems are failing our country, our students and our future. Joe Stella

Advertisement

Keep Columbus

Hauppauge, L.I.: Yes, I agree there should be a day honoring indigenous persons, but it doesn’t need to be Columbus Day. May I suggest a day in March, which is a long dreary month between winter and spring with no three-day weekends to break the monotony? Barbara Haynes